Designers at Denver’s Western & English Sales Association market focus on tradition

Tasha Polizzi’s striped top and skirt for fall-winter 2013-14. (Provided by Tasha Polizzi)

One of the terms that has been bandied about a lot lately in fashion circles is “heritage.” It’s shorthand for brands going back to their roots rather than chasing the latest trends all over the style map.

At last weekend’s Western & English Sales Association market at the Denver Mart, which drew retailers from across the country, companies specializing in western wear revisited the designs that helped launch their brands, and also used vintage looks as inspiration for their new lines for next fall and winter.

Tasha Polizzi based pieces in her fall-winter line on a striped Indian blanket in muted shades of orange, purple, blue and red. “I’m so inspired by vintage pieces,” said Polizzi. She interpreted the pattern in a flowing skirt, cape-like “sagebrush” top, a shawl, fringed cardigan and dress. “It’s all the colors I love right now,” Polizzi said in her showroom at the Mart. “They look so fresh.”

Another fun piece in the line is a full printed cotton “mariachi” skirt with a pictoral design reminiscent of something from the 1940s or 1950s. Polizzi showed it with yet another vintage-inspired piece, a fringed “rodeo” shirt. She said she plans to add a new skirt design each season.

And Polizzi isn’t above teaching a traditional item a few tricks by showing it in an offbeat material. She did a trench coat in an Indian blanket pattern, calling it “CSI meets Santa Fe.”

[media-credit id=147 align=”alignright” width=”270″][/media-credit] Embroidery on the back of a fur-trimmed Double D Ranchwear coat.

Double D Ranchwear, based in Texas, is known for its beautifully detailed vests, jackets and sportswear. For its fall collection, the company is again embellishing outerwear with such ornamentation as hairpipe, beading, embroidery and twisted fringe.

Fans of the line include retailer Shari Ross of Tough Luck Cowboy in Boulder, who says her customers are loving color right now.